‘Hairspray’ ‘You can’t stop the beat’ at Munopco Music Theatre

More than 60 people will recreate the 1960s era in Munopco Music Theatre’s big, bold and bright production of the hit Broadway musical “Hairspray.”

The musical about a plump teen who yearns to be on “The “Corny Collins Show,” an American Bandstand-style television show in Baltimore, features catchy 60s’-flavored songs and lots of high-energy dancing.

One of the cast members even joked she was losing weight from all the dancing, says Munopco “Hairspray” director Susan McDermott.

The closing show of Munopco’s 2017-18 season runs June 28-30 and July 1, Scottish Rite Cathedral, Allentown.

There’s no doubt the show is jam-packed with dancing.

“Almost every scene is a production number,” McDermott says. “There is dancing in every scene and that’s what makes the show so fun. Everybody’s moving. Everybody’s shaking.”

She says the entire cast, which ranges in age from 10 to 70-plus, “has to dance a least a little” in the show. McDermott says she is lucky to have a great choreographer in Suzanne Doran Balstar.

“We have worked together for years,” McDermott says.

“Hairspray,” nominated for 13 Tony Awards and receiving eight including Best Musical in 2003, is based on writer-director John Waters’ 1988 film that was shot in part in South Whitehall Township’s Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.

The musical, with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, features 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues.

“Hairspray” explores themes of racial prejudice, civil rights and freedom of expression as Tracy Turnblad ultimately works to integrate the television show.

It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, has only one desire: to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star.

She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin, and integrate a TV show, all without denting her “do.”

McDermott says Balstar did an outstanding job creating choreography that distinguishes the difference between the dancing by the “fresh-faced kids next door” on the “Corny Collins Council” TV show and the “more emotional” dancing of the downtown youths who hang out in a rhythm and blues record shop.

She explains that at the time many songs by black artists were recorded by white artists, changing the feel of the music. The dancing and music in the show “is definitely a reflection of the time.”

McDermott says Balstar had Tyree Scott, who plays Seaweed, watch James Brown music videos to get a feel for the “downtown” style.

When McDermott, who was in the cast of Munopco’s “White Christmas” in December, found out the theater group was looking for directors, she put in her name for “Hairspray.”

“Everyone likes this musical,” she says. “It has a great message about being yourself, being proud of who you are and making a difference.”

She is especially excited about her primarily young, energetic cast since she comes from a background of teaching high school.

“I was fortunate to be able to cast it well and that’s the hardest part,” she says. “We are so lucky to have a tremendous cast and not one weak link.”